I'm back and we have a winner...

small country fair...

linen for my lavender pillows... my table...

giggles...they're the best!

toes...toes and more toes...

sibling portraits...

I can hear all the cheer in the background...."Yay for Jen"...
Congratulations Jen...you can visit her here...if you would like to personally congratulate her. She has the most adorable family!
She commissioned(or rather her winning request) is for one of those Wild Things with her little nephew on it's back.

I am SO sorry I can't paint one for each and every one of you who entered the giveaway....but there will be more giveaways in the New Year!

Update (as I have been M.I.A for over a week now...or is it 2weeks?)
Dad is ok....didn't end up having a biopsy-but will probably very soon.(his kidneys needed to be at a better functioning state and his prostate has to reduce in side through meds.
He's out of hospital...and at home recovering from probably a few years of his body not functioning properly. Once stable he'll go in again for a biopsy and then probably a prostate reduction op.
THANK YOU so much for all your support...it really meant the World to me.
I have been walking around in a daze...not being able to function 100% and forgetting to do things.(sounds like I need to see a doctor!!!)
BUT...I had the show on Saturday and it went well, it was small...and I think maybe 150 people came through...
I'vebe posted a couple of photos in this post so you can visually catch up.

HOW are YOU?

I know....there have been sometimes days when I haven't even turned my computer on...so my apologies for not passing by YOUR World...and saying hi.
In a few days I will be in the Old Country and may get a little more time to blog!YAY.
I've missed you all...although I needed this time...downtime from thinking about anything other than my dad.
I DID:
-finish 23 Lavender tooth fairy pillows.
-paint those 2 pictures (3ftx3ft)
I've packed(almost).
Gotten ready for a Show in UK.
Had to deal with Canadian Immigration...(2 of the days)
Christmas shopped...probably FAR too much again. The bags are FULL and I haven't finished packing all the clothes.(we have a policy in our house that we ONLY buy gifts for the little ones-I can't imagine how many bags of luggage I would need if I was buying for all the adults in our family too!)

Ok...I'll be back tomorrow.
I have added the pictures to the top of this post.

Night Night .... sweet dreams....thanks for passing by.
Char,On.

thread races

keeping the girls busy this morning...teaching a 3 and 5 year old how to sew...

but first...they have to learn also how to place the embroidery thread on the little paper spools.

lots of hand eye coordination...and...look at how many they have to do!

Thank you ALL for your well wishes, prayers and thoughts with regards to my Dad...I had a tough day yesterday...but your comments helped SO much.

I am blessed I have good friends and family around...and SO fortunate I have made some very wonderful friends through this Blogging World.

Thanks for being there.

What are you keeping busy with today?

I have to start those 2 paintings which have been put to the side for these past couple of days...and then have a hip-hop dance class to go to this evening. (haha...yeah...I just see it as a 45 minute work out),

I'll give you an update of how things are later.

HUGS.

Char,ON

worried...

about Dad...he's been having problems with his prostate for the past couple of years...and finally went to a specialist yesterday instead of just his family doctor.He's been booked in tomorrow to a Hospital in London. They have to do a biopsy on his prostate, but have to drain his bladder which hasn't been working properly for a while they suspect, it's effecting his Kidneys.
I know he's worried...I am worried...I'm far away, and wish I could just give him a hug.It's been a tough day.
This was a quick doodle of "Dad the Protector"...with my bro,sis and me. He's always been there for us all...and..and...and...
Does anyone know how to quickly cure puffy red eyes? I have to pick up little Miss A from school in about half an hour.
Thinking of you dad...love you dearly.

Char,On

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN

this one is for YOU...

The Holidays are approaching... a gifts you are buying...why not WIN one for someone special!

Tell me for WHO & WHY (it could be for yourself:-) you would want one of my "Once Upon a Time Original Watercolours"...and you could WIN one.

You have 3 chances in total:

1. leave your comment about for WHO & WHY...
2. Make sure you're a "Fabulous Reader" of our Blog
3. Blog about the "WIN WIN WIN" contest.

(make sure each of the above are left as separate comments! THX)

That's it...quick, the contest closes on Saturday 21st 8pm EST.

Winner will be announced on Sunday :-)

HUGS...have a glorious Monday.

Char,On

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED::WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER TODAY (Sunday 22ndNov)

weekend projects...

I painted Spanish bears in mountainous settings...and started xmas gifts for friends and relatives in the UK...

and finished a "Thank You" cat for our wonderful helper who's always there at our Mamas and Chicks Show...thank you L!

oh yes, we went to "Saltan's Tent" for my hubby's Birthday dinner with friends...and rolled out...I'm definitely not used to eating as much in the evening. It was delicious...but thought it could have been a touch hotter(in the Spice department).
The belly dancers were awesome...I want to be able to do that one day...they had these sheer red shawls which they would incorporate into their dancing...reminding me of a warm breeze
swirling through the restaurant. Loved the music too.

This week I'm starting 2 3ft x 3ft portraits. I know, I'm really excited too!

What are you up to this week?

Char,On

P.S.Tomorrow will be the Giveaway...so come back and enter for your chance to win an original watercolour!

Once Upon a Time...thanks.

I have a list of "Thank You"'s ...and a list of "To Do"s...today the "To Do"s can wait.
This bird is for Shelly, I introduced you to her a few weeks away...a very talented Artist and Photographer...she came to my rescue.
Usually my husband will take the day off and help me when at the Shows...because the majority of the morning is spent tending to vendors and their needs as they get settled.
Well, my husband had to teach(he teaches ground school at the nearby Airport)...so...I had to think of someone...and Shelly came to mind....and she kindly said yes!
So...thank you lovely friend, it was great hanging out with you for the morning.
I hope you love your birdie.
This has to be one of my favourite...the colours work really well and it feels Wintry.
Colour palette: inspired by my paint brushes...
Shelly loves the City and is a Free Spirit...with a heart of Gold. There are very few people in the World like this...but I am SO fortunate to know a handful of them.

Thanks for stopping by...what are you up to this weekend?

We're having quite the feast of a weekend...tonight Sushi and tomorrow Moroccan...YUM! And all in honour of my dear hubby's Birthday!

Have a good one...and remember to check back sometime this weekend...you can win your OWN Once Upon a Time watercolour!

Char,ON

shop-cut-iron-HIDE...

just came back from the ART store to buy 2 canvases for a commission I landed yesterday...
and look what I bought...Mike Perry's new "IRON ME ON" book...perfect!

we came home...Little Miss A went running up to school for the afternoon...and I came back with Miss J and read a few story books...and then she went to Dream Land for an hour.

I ran downstairs and cut out a couple of scenaries for their blank tops I had been saving...this one is Miss A's...

and this one is Miss J's...

It took an hour in total...and then I quickly hid then as soon as I heard the little pitta-patta of feet coming down the stairs.

Now to find some fleecy Pj trouser material with deer and trees on...et voila! Merry Christmas!

Hope your day is going well...what have you been up to?

Char,On

Do I...Don't I???

So, this isn't easy...because I really want to win this GREAT GIVEAWAY....but because I love all of you SO much...I'm going to share this one today.
As some of you already know Amy and Ann, you may have already entered this Giveaway....but if you haven't...they have finished putting together such a wonderful 2010 Calender ....FULL of lots of eye candy to make you WANT to cook and bake yummy creations everyday.
Go to their Blog and enter TODAY!
I have to run to the Post Office and then over to my favourite EYE CANDY store...our local ART shop.
If I get time...I'll post again today...lots to tell:-)

See you later...thanks for passing by...I'm having a Holiday Giveaway before heading across Seas...so make sure you pass by this weekend!

Char,On

Happy Birthday my love...

it was actually yesterday...but didn't get around to dedicating a post for him. We made a cake for him...and wrapped pressies, made cards...the girls and I sang Happy Birthday...

Happy Birthday Ron...not a day goes by when I don't think how I am the luckiest lady alive...I hope all your wishes come true.

Don't our girls look like him! I know...a lot...they're all gorgeous.

Thank you ALL for all your very sweet comments about our Show...it went really well.

I forgot my camera...ya, really, I know...so silly. There was a great attendance which I worked hard to get...so when the crowds of shoppers came in...my nervousness passed.(it's amazing how crazy your stomach can get leading up to an event like this...disappointing 55 vendors can be a little stressful!)

Sales were good though and our vendors seemed to have a successful day too...this makes our future Shows hopefully much easier on the gathering of vendors next year.

My next post I'd like to introduce you to a few vendors I shopped from...I'm hoping to post again tomorrow...I thought I would be less busy after the Show...but with only 3 weeks to go until we fly across the Atlantic...I have 3 commissions to complete and lots of organising before we go.

I will be passing by to say hi to you very soon...but have to rush out the door right now.

HUGS,

Char,ON

The COUNTDOWN is on...

we had a packing party(the Mama Loot Bags...250) last night with a bunch of great friends...THANK YOU all...including my darling husband who I know could have been working on his "PLAN of change"...but he helped us.
BUT first we HAD to get some Spicy Thai food in... and naow down on some great flavours!

a quick clean up...and to packing we went...round and round the table, adding vendors and other business owners marketing material...

2 hours later...we had this...a sea of blue(bags donated from our local Toy Store...thanks Scholars Choice!)...feels good to get it over with.

I then had to say goodbye to this wee fella...I finished him at the weekend, his name is Pickle...and his owner Nathanael(lovely name).

Sarah came to pick him up...Sarah is an acquaintance whom I've known for 3 years now and I really hope I will see more of...she's a very talented Graphic Designer...and has a Blog called Lucky Cat Design...which you must go and check out. She started it about a year ago...and I really can't believe how she doesn't have the followers she should have...her blog is a wealth of information.

This was her intro line to what her Blog is about:

"I've created this blog to provide expert advice on how to effectively market your business as well as to keep you up to date on the comings and goings of Lucky Cat Design."

I can't wait to browse and read her posts one evening...GREAT WORK Sarah!!!

AND I want to introduce all of my regular blog buddies to her, because I know she has been browsing our Blog...so she knows I have met great creative and inspiring people our there in BlogWorld...(she's right...I have)

Show some love friends!

Anyway...if I get a chance tomorrow I will post...but it's looking very slim...the Mamas and Chicks Show is on Saturday...phew...it's been a CRAZY time...

Hugs to y'all!

Char,On

I have 5 minutes...

... to quickly upload a few images from this week just past...these are all the good things which have been happening...the Mamas and Chicks Show has been eating away at every given second...and now that I have 5 minutes before getting back to the grind...I thought I'd better make an appearance....it's been a LONG week...I have missed you ALL.
Here goes...our two girls...their wishes were to be:
on a WINDY Halloween night...

but before we made some glorious crafts...

and did loots of running under trees to encompass nature...

and all those brilliant Canadian yellows...

the girls loved our spidy web and rain....

I managed to squeeze in a Lady Bug ride...

and little miss A had picture day...

Things will be back to normal after to weekend...

We're packing 250 loot bags tomorrow evening...after having Thai takeout and a bottle of wine!(did I say bottle? I meant glass:-)

If I had time to visit your blog, I would know what you have been up to...I'm sorry...

What have you been upto?

Char,On